SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS, DRIVING METHOD THEREFOR, AND CAMERA

• US 20010010553A1
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Published: 08/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: TANAKA, HIROAKI, HIROTA, ISAO
• Granted Patent: US 6,559,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/311
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14812 Special geometry or disposition of pixel-elements, address lines or gate-electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14818 Optical shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14843 Interline transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14887 Blooming suppression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/42 by switching between different modes of operation using different resolutions or aspect ratios, e.g. switching between interlaced and non-interlaced mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/57 Control of the dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/73 using interline transfer [IT]

Abstract

In a CCD imaging device in which sensor sections have the vertical overflow drain (OFD) structure, a substrate bias control signal is applied to the base of a bipolar transistor via a resistor to turn on the transistor at least during a signal charge readout period. As a result, the base potential of a bipolar transistor that constitutes a clamping circuit is lowered, whereby a substrate bias that is output from a substrate bias generation circuit is lowered. Thus, the potential of an overflow barrier in the sensor sections is reduced.

Claims

1. A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising:

a solid-state imaging device having a plurality of sensor sections that have an overflow drain structure and are arranged in matrix form, and a charge transfer section for transferring signal charges read out from the sensor sections; and

a driving system for performing a drive so as to lower an overflow drain bias of the solid-state imaging device at least during a signal charge readout period in a given operation mode.

2. The solid-state imaging apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein in the driving system a start point of lowering the overflow drain bias is set before a start of an exposure.

3. The solid-state imaging apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein in the driving system a start point of lowering the overflow drain bias is set within an exposure period.

4. The solid-state imaging apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein in the driving system a start point of lowering the overflow drain bias is set within a period from readout of signal charges in a first field to readout of signal charges in a second field.

5. The solid-state imaging apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein in the driving system a start point of lowering the overflow drain bias is set within a period from completion of an exposure to readout of signal charges.

6. A driving method of a solid-state imaging apparatus comprising a solid-state imaging device having a plurality of sensor sections that have an overflow drain structure and are arranged in matrix form, and a charge transfer section for transferring signal charges read out from the sensor sections, the driving method comprising the step of:

lowering an overflow drain bias of the solid-state imaging device at least during a signal charge readout period in a given operation mode.

7. The driving method according to

claim 6

, wherein a start point of lowering the overflow drain bias is set before a start of an exposure.

8. The driving method according to

claim 6

, wherein a start point of lowering the overflow drain bias is set within an exposure period.

9. The driving method according to

claim 6

, wherein a start point of lowering the overflow drain bias is set within a period from readout of signal charges in a first field to readout of signal charges in a second field.

10. The driving method according to

claim 6

, wherein a start point of lowering the overflow drain bias is set within a period from completion of an exposure to readout of signal charges.

11. A camera comprising:

a solid state-imaging apparatus comprising;

a solid-state imaging device having a plurality of sensor sections that have an overflow drain structure and are arranged in matrix form, and a charge transfer section for transferring signal charges read out from the sensor sections; and

a driving system for performing a drive so as to lower a substrate bias of the solid-state imaging device at least during a signal charge readout period in a given operation mode;

an optical system for guiding incident light to an imaging area of the solid-state imaging device; and

light interrupting means for determining an exposure period by interrupting the light incident to prevent it from reaching the imaging area of the solid-state imaging device.